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Schools for sex workers' kids, homeless

Amitabh Shukla
May 23

In a bid to reach out to the rag pickers, homeless children and the children of the sex workers and enroll them in schools, the Delhi government has drawn up an ambitious plan.

Three schools would be set up for the homeless children and rag pickers – two in Chandni Chowk and one in Tehkhand. "The children would not only study here but also pick up training in vocational trade and get free food," said Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday reviewed the project in a meeting of senior officers.

For the children of sex workers, living in and around GB Road in central Delhi, the concept of "mobile schools" has been developed and two buses requisitioned. "These will function as a school with blackboards, computers, teachers and other facilities and would be parked during the day time in the red light district of the city," Lovely said.

The minister said initially the children would come out of curiosity to see the "mobile schools". They will then take tips from the teacher and would be motivated to enroll in the formal school system, he said.

The scheme for the homeless children and the rag pickers along with the mobile schools is part of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan of the government. In the three schools, 900 rag pickers and homeless children would study. The government has tied up with the Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee for food and the children can even stay there for the duration of their study.

Lovely said the project would be run with the help of the NGOs and will be extended to other parts of the city in due course. "The mobile schools in particular would be of great help in generating interest of the students towards education in the slum clusters," he added.

Both the schemes would be launched after the summer vacations are over and would be monitored on a regular basis for feedback and further improvement.